Circular independent latch needle knitting machine



Sept. 10. 1940. H. H. HOLMES CIRCULAR INDEPENDENT LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l In vento; 7% M14zW 36 by 9 A ttorney H. H HOLMES Filed April 4, 1939 2 Sheets-$hee1 2 Invenior,

Attorney,

Sept. 10, 1940.

CIRCULAR INDEPENDENT LATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Patented Sept. 10, 1940 CIRCULAR INDEPENDENT L ATCH NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE Henry Harold Holmes, Leicester, England, assignor to Wilclt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company 1 Application April 4, 1929, Serial No. 266,011 In Great Britain April 6, 1938 7' Claims.

This invention'relatesto circular independent latch needle knitting machines, more particularly those of the type including two axially opposed, e. g., superimposed needle cylinders and especially of the characteristic kind furnished with double-ended needles operable by means of sliders whereby transference of needles from one cylinder tothe other be effected for purposes with which those familiar with these machines are well acquainted.

The present invention has'for its object improvements appertaining to the opening of. the needle latches at appropriate times, as for example after needles have beencaused to cast-off stitches, so as to enable them to resume knitting, or in needle transferring actions to ensure that needles being transferred from one cylinder are a on, cam, and also shows, partly in section, a portion of the bottom cylinder of the machine;

Figures 2 and 3 are front and side elevational' views of the same as seen in the directions of .theiarrows A and B in Figure 1 respectively, ure 3- being partly in section.

Figure ,4 represents a layout of so much of the bottom cam system of the machine as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention. I

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings. I

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that there is provided in association with the needles I in the bottom cylinder 2 a latch opening element 3 consisting of a short steel rod tapered to a point Fig- l at one end and bent adjacent to "that end so.

that the tapered portion 3a is at right angles to the remainder. This element is mounted to pivot about a vertical spindle 5 and controlled by a spring 6 tending lightly to urge the element. towards the needle circle 1. shown in'Figures 1, 2 and 3, the spindle 5 is screw-threadedat its lower end for co-operation with a nut 8 (see Figure 2) by means of which it is rigidly secured to a plate 9 formed on or Conveniently, and as secured to a bracket l0. As shown in Figure 2, I

this bracket is furnished with'a lug II to enableit to be secured in position upon'any convenient fixed part of the machine. The said spindle, projects upwardly from the plate 9 and has pivotalspring 6 aforesaid is of the tension type and anchored at one end to the latch opening element 3 relatively to the needle circle I adjacent to the hooks Ia of needles i in the bottom cylinder 2, in the manner shown in Figure 1, so that the The pointed end can be moved into and outof the circular path of these needles at an appropriate point in the circle. 7

As in a machine of the characteristic type aforesaid the operative position of the latch opener is a critical one owing to the extremely limited space in which it has to work, there is preferably provided in conjunction with the latch opener means for maintaining the needles in a radial position favourable to satisfactory engagemerit of the latch opener with the latches of the needles in connection with which the latch openor is to be employed. In one form, such means include an independent cam movably arranged and operable in conjunction with the latch opener for movement into and out of an operative position conjointly with the latch open-er so that when the latter is located in the operative position the said cam is simultaneously-moved into such a position that it engages the appropriate needles in order to press them back in their tricks whereby every needle is positively located in a definite position radially with respect to the operative portion of the latch opener to enable the latter to act without fail and without damage to itself or to the needles. In an alternative arrangement there are provided in a machine of the characteristic type mentioned needles with protuberant middle portions or sliders with en larg'ed leading ends, or both, whereby the needles alignment vertically with, e. g., below, the point ed end 4 of the latch opener 3. Conveniently, and as shown, the presser cam i9 is pivoted and spring controlled. In this connection it will be seen that the presser cam is mounted to pivot about a stud 22 which projects vertically upwards from the plate 9, a distance piece 23 being provided to support the cam and maintain it in suitable spaced relation with said plate. At its tail end the presser cam i9 is formed with an upwardly inclined and recessed lug 24 to which is anchored one end of a comparatively short tension spring 25 the opposite end of which is connected to the upstanding plate I6 aforesaid. To enable it to be operated the presser cam is articulated, e. g., by means of a screw 26, to a link 27 slotted longitudinally as indicated at 28 for reception of a pin 29 in a plunger or bolt 30 extending outwards from a cam 3| located in the bottom cam box of the machine. Alternatively the presser cam may be slotted longitudinally for engagement with the pin 29 and slidably mounted under spring control. But in either event the arrangement is such that the operative portion 23 of the presser cam moves radially, or substantially so, of the needle circle I, the spring 25tending to urge it towards the needles I. The plunger or bolt 30 is adapted to slide longitudinally in a recess formed in the bracket H] for reception thereof, and is conveniently controlled by a tension spring 32 one end of which latter is anchored to the vertical pin 29 while the other end is connected to a peg or a screw such as 33 fixed in the plate 9. In the specific example illustrated the cam 3| purports to be an auxiliary casting-off cam (as will be hereinafter more fully explained) and is automatically movable into and out of its operative position, i. e., the position shown in Figures 1 and 3. For operating the said cam there is provided, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, an eccentric stud 34 formed on a rotatable rod 35 which extends downwardly through a bearing 3 .5 formed on the bracket l0 and is placed under the control of the existing main timing or control gear of the machine, or of an auxiliary device or mechanism suitably operated and controlled in any conventional manner. The stud 34 is arranged to work in an appropriately shaped recess 31 (see Figure 3) formed in the underside of the plunger or bolt 30. The arrangement is therefore such that by turning the rod 35 in an appropriate manner, the cam 3i can either be allowed to move into its operative position under'the action of the spring 32, or can be withdrawn to its inoperative position against the spring action. The outer end of the slotted link 21 is turned down to form a lug 38 which carries an abutment screw'39 the leading end of which is arranged for contact With the pin 29. By reason of this construction the pin 29, whenever the cam 3! is Withdrawn from action, presses on the screw 39 and consequently moves the link 2'! more or lesslongitudinally in a direction radially outwards from the needle circle. In turn, the presser cam I9 is caused to swing. outwards on its pivot 22 against the action of its spring 25. That is to say, the presser cam moves into and .out of its operative position conjointly with corresponding movements of the cam 3|. The screw 39 is adjustable and has associated with it a locknut 40, the slot 23 permitting of any required adjustment. The operative position of the latch opening element 3 is determined bycontact of an abutment screw ll-which is carried by the pivoted block l2v-with a fixed stop 42 (see Figure 1) on the plate 9. For the purpose of rendering the shown at 20; to receive. the operative part 20 of the cam E9 to enable it to press upon the needles l.

Whenv it is intended for use in machines em ploying particularly fine gauge needles, the unit just described may also include a suitably positioned brush to control the top latches of the needles as these are lowered. By way of example such a brush is indicated at 44 in Figure 3 and,

as will be seen, this is clamped in a holder 45 which is secured to the upstanding plate Hi.

The cam 3! is incorporated in the bottom cam system (a portion of which is shown in Figure 4) and may conveniently be located in advance of a I fixed casting-01f cam such as 46 into contact with which sliders (not shown) in the bottom cylinder 2 are directed when the cam 3! is rendered operative whereby the corresponding needles are caused to cast oif. The latch opener 3 and the presser cam l9 are located above and in appropriate positions in a circumferential direction relatively to a cam 41 (Figure 4) which advances the needles afterv the casting off action. The arrangement is such that when the movable cam 31 which initiates the casting off action is in the inoperative position, i. e., withdrawn, the pin 29 in the plunger or bolt 30 acts on the screw 39 and the nose likeprojection l9a similarly acts onthe screw 43 to hold the presser cam I9 and latch opening element 3 inoperative against the spring action. Consequently when the plunger or bolt 30 moves inwards the presser cam and latch opening element are moved into their operative positions under spring action at the same time. The arrangement and operation of the unit is preferably such that the presser cam l9 and latch opener 3 are enabled to remain in operation until the last needle to be advanced after casting ofi has been acted upon, having regard to the fact that the cam 3i which initiates the casting off action operates some distance circumferentially in advance of the said presser cam and latch opener. The spring 3 which lightly controls the latch opener 3 enables this to yield when in the operative position in the event of it meeting with resistance such as might be offered by a damaged needle or a displaced needle or I slider. By making provision for adjustment of the screws 4| and 43 the latch opener can be adjusted so as to enable it to be accurately positioned in relation to the needles I when rendered operative.

. The arrangement herein described is advantageously applied to a seamless hose machine of the characteristic typev aforesaid, wherein the 7} sliders in the bottom cylinder .2 are-divided into two groups, i. e., substantially one half with short knitting butts such as those indicatedat 48 (Fig- 'ure 1) and the remainder with long knitting butts such as 49, and furnished with casting off means in the bottom cylinder comprising, as hereinbefore described, a fixed cam such as 46 for action on the appropriate slider butts so as to lower the associated needles to castingfcff level, an auxiliary bolt cam 3| for directing said butts into engagement with the fixed cam and a fixed raising cam 41 forsassisting in raising the needles after casting off, thelatch opener and presser cam 19, when provided, being operable conjointly with the bolt cam in the manner already described. The bolt cam controlling means are timed so that the said cam first rubson the short slider butts and is thus inv a position to engage and depress the first. long slider butts, following which it is permitted to spring into its,

fully operative position so that eventually all of the butts, i. e., bothlong andshort, are engaged. Thus casting oifcornmences on the needle engaged by the first long butt slider'and is always initiated on the-same needle." It is terminatedbyv reverse operation of the bolt cam which'in the final stage of withdrawal (and only at this time) effects withdrawal of "the latch opener 3 and the presser cam i9, if provided.

With this construction and operation, therefore, and by reason of the lost motion between the presser cam 19 and the screw 43, the latch opener 3 moves into its operative position in advance of said cam and is withdrawn later than the first stage of the movement of the cam toits inoperative position. v

The improved means may be provided in conjunction with either plain. needles or rib needles, or both.

Similar arrangements may be provided at the needle transferring locations in a machine of the ber of latch openers and associated parts may be provided.

The invention may be applied to circular knitting machines of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type generally, but is mainly intended for application to those of the characteristic kind aforesaid furnished with rotary needle cylinders.

What I claim then is:

1. In a circular independent latch needle knitting machine, in combination, a latch opener arranged for movement into and out of an operative position, at least one needle operating cam adapted, when operative, to effect an operation in respect of which it is desired to open needle latches, and means for automatically effecting conjoint and simultaneous operation of said latch opener and cam whereby these parts are always moved into their operative positions simultaneously and whereby the latch opener is withdrawn slightly later than the cam, for the purpose herein set forth.

2. For a circular independent latch needle knitting machine, a unit which comprises, in combination, a bracket, a latch opener which is movably mounted on said bracket, spring means for controlling said latch opener, a presser cam which is also movably mounted on said bracket and adapted, when operative, to press upon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened bysaid latch opener, spring means for controlling said presser which is slidable in the bracket, means for action on said bolt to renderthe cam operative and inoperative a'cccrding to requirements, a link for connecting the presser cam with the bolt, whereby the needle operating and presser cams are operated conjointly, and means which areasscciated with the latch opener and adapted to be acted uponby the presser .cam in such a Way that'said latch opener will move into its operative position in advance of the presser cam and be withdrawn later than said cam, for the purpose herein set forth. I

3. For a circular independent latch needle knitting machine, a unit which comprises, in combination, a bracket, a latch opener which is pivotally mounted on said bracket, spring means for controlling said latch opener, a presser cam which is also pivotally mounted'onsaid bracket andadapted, when operative, to press upon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened by said latch opener, spring means for controlling said presser cam, a needle operating cam formed with a bolt earn, a needle operating cam formed with a bolt according to requirements; a pin in said bolt, a

link which is pivotally connected to the presser cam and adapted to be acted uponby said'pin whereby the needle operating and presser cams are operated conjointly, and means which are associatedwith the latch opener and adapted to be acted upon by the presser cam in such a way that said latch opener will move into its operative position in advance of the presser cam and be withdrawn later than said cam, for the purpose herein set forth.

4. For a circular independent latch needle knitting machine, a unit which comprises, in combination, a bracket, a plate secured to said bracket, 2, spindle mounted on said plate, a block mounted for pivotal movement about said spindle, a latch opener consisting of a rod tapered at one end and bent adjacent to that end, said latch opener being secured in the pivoted block,

a tension spring for controlling the latch opener,

a presser cam which is pivotally mounted on the bracket and adapted, when operative, to press upon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened by said latch opener, a tension spring for controlling said presser cam, a needle operating cam formed with a bolt which is slidable in the bracket, a spring for controlling said bolt, means for action on said bolt to render the cam operative and inoperative according to requirements, a pin in said bolt, a link which is pivotally connected to the presser cam and formed with a slot for reception of said pin, a screw which is carried by the link and arranged for contact with the pin, whereby the needle operating and presser cams are operated conjointly, another screw which is carried by the aforesaid pivoted block and arranged to be acted upon by the presser cam for the purpose specified, and means for determining the operative position of the latch opener.

5. For a circular independent latch needle knitting .machine, a unit which comprises, in combination, a bracket, a latch opener which is movably mounted on said bracket, a presser cam which is also movably mounted on said bracket and adapted, when operative, to pressupon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened by said latch opener, a needle operating cam having a part which is movable in the bracket, means for action on said part to render the cam operative and inoperative according to requirements, a member for connecting the presser cam with the needle operating cam whereby said cams are 0perated conjointly, and means which are movable with the latch opener and adapted to be acted upon by the presser cam in such a way that said latch opener will move into its operative position in advance of the presser cam and be withdrawn later than said cam, for the purpose herein specified.

6. In a circular independent latch needle knitting machine, in combination, a movably mounted latch opener, a presser cam which is also movably mounted and adapted, when operative, to press upon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened by said latch opener, a movable needle operating cam, means for rendering said needle operating cam operative and inoperative according to requirements, a member for connecting the presser cam with the needle operating cam whereby said camsare operated conjointly, and means which are movable with the latch opener and adapted to be acted upon by the presser cam in such a way that said latch opener will move into its operative position in advance of the presser cam and be withdrawn later than the latter, for the purpose herein set forth.

able bolt cam for action upon said butts, means for automatically rendering said bolt cam operative and inoperative according torequirements, said cam being so timed that it first rubs on the short slider butts and is thus in a position to engage and act upon the first long slider butts, following which it is permitted to move into its fully operative 'position sothat all of the butts are engaged, and withdrawal of the cam is effected in thereverse manner, a latch opener arranged for movement into and out of an operative position, a presser cam which is also movably mounted and adapted, when operative, to press upon needles and maintain them in position while the latches thereof are being opened by said latch opener, a member for connecting the presser cam with the bolt cam whereby said cams are operated conjointly, and means which are movable with the latch opener and adapted to be acted upon by the presser cam in such a way that said latch opener will move into its operative position in advance of the presser cam and be withdrawn later than the latter, for the purpose herein set forth.

HENRY HAROLD I-IOELMIES. I 

